When you think “rhinoplasty,” you may picture cosmetic refinement. As a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Houston who performs both cosmetic and functional nasal surgery, Dr. Angela Sturm also sees the other side of the story every day: how improving nasal airflow can transform sleep, energy, exercise tolerance, and even taste and smell. This article blends clinical explanation with real-world outcomes to help you understand what functional rhinoplasty addresses—and how we evaluate the entire airway to deliver safe, meaningful, and lasting improvement.
How Better Nasal Breathing Changes Daily Life
Patients often underestimate how much nasal obstruction affects quality of life. When you breathe more efficiently through your nose, you may notice:
- Improved sleep quality. Nasal breathing supports deeper, more efficient sleep; some patients also notice reduced snoring (recognizing snoring can have multiple causes).
- Easier exercise and better stamina. Training, recovery, and perceived exertion improve when you can breathe the way the body is designed to—through the nose.
- More energy and mental clarity. Efficient airflow can translate to feeling more awake and focused.
- Enhanced smell and taste. Better airflow reaches the olfactory nerves, which can sharpen scent perception and, in turn, the flavor experience.
Many patients describe the change as “life-changing”—including Dr. Sturm, who shares openly that her own septoplasty significantly improved her breathing.
What Functional Rhinoplasty Can—and Can’t—Address
Well-suited for:
- One-sided or alternating stuffiness
- Difficulty moving air through the nose at rest or with exertion
- A history of nasal trauma with persistent obstruction
- Visible valve collapse (nostrils narrowing inward) when you breathe in
- Known deviated septum or chronically enlarged turbinates
May not resolve by itself:
- Predominantly allergy-driven symptoms (itchy/watery eyes, seasonal sneezing, runny nose on both sides). Surgery can improve airflow, but allergic triggers often require medical management (e.g., antihistamines, nasal steroids, immunotherapy).
Setting accurate expectations is essential. We’ll clarify exactly what surgery can improve and what may still require allergy care so your results match your goals.
Risks, Safety, and How We Mitigate Them
Any surgery carries risks. Our job is to minimize them through meticulous technique, careful tissue handling, and close follow-up.
- Pain/Discomfort: Most septoplasty/turbinate patients describe stuffiness more than pain; many use little to no prescription pain medication. When combined with cosmetic rhinoplasty (including bony work), pressure can feel similar to a sinus headache in early recovery.
- Bleeding: Typically low risk. We monitor you closely in the first 24 hours and again around days 7–10 when normal healing “scabs” can shed. Office treatments usually resolve this. Reported risk is <5%.
- Scarring (internal adhesions): Uncommon, but more likely after significant trauma. We can release scar bands and may place temporary sheeting to help tissues heal separately and maintain the airway.
- Septal perforation: Rare, but the risk increases with severe deviation or prior injury. Experienced technique is critical. If a small perforation occurs, it may be asymptomatic; larger perforations can cause crusting or whistling. With vigilant technique and the ability to repair if needed, the risk is <1%.
Results That Last
Structural improvements to the septum, turbinates, and nasal valves are intended to be long-lasting. Natural aging can alter tissue tone over time, but most patients enjoy durable airflow benefits for years. If allergies are part of your story, coupling surgery with medical management offers the most stable, satisfying result.
Cost and Insurance Considerations
Cosmetic rhinoplasty is not covered by insurance. However, functional procedures—such as septoplasty, turbinate reduction, and nasal valve repair—are often covered when medically necessary. When functional and cosmetic goals are addressed together, insurance may offset operating room and anesthesia costs associated with the functional portion, leaving you responsible for the cosmetic fee. We’ll verify benefits and provide a transparent estimate during your consultation.
The Bottom Line: Form and Function, Working Together
Functional rhinoplasty is not simply “a straighter septum.” It’s a carefully planned, technically precise set of operations that can improve the way you sleep, move, and experience the world—while preserving or enhancing the aesthetics of your nose. With double board certification, advanced fellowship training, and extensive experience in both cosmetic and functional rhinoplasty, Dr. Sturm provides authoritative, data-informed guidance and individualized care to deliver durable improvements with an emphasis on safety and natural results.
Thinking about breathing better? Dr. Angela Sturm is a double board-certified (ABO-HNS and ABFPS), fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon in Houston specializing in rhinoplasty—including complex functional, revision, and ethnic cases—and SMAS facelift surgery. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Sturm to explore a personalized plan for your airway—and, if desired, your aesthetics—so you can feel (and breathe) like the best version of yourself.
